Definition
挡箭牌 (dǎngjiànpái) literally means 'arrow-blocking shield', but in modern usage it's almost always figurative — something you use to deflect blame, criticism, or responsibility. You can think of it as a 'go-to excuse' or 'convenient pretext'. Unlike 盾牌 (dùnpái, a physical shield), 挡箭牌 is always about social or rhetorical protection.
n.
(figurative) a shieldan excuse or pretext used to deflect blame or criticism
Examples
- 挡箭牌，。Tā zǒngshì ná gōngzuò máng dāng dǎng, qíshí shì bù xiǎng cānjiā jùhuì.He always uses being busy with work as an excuse, but actually he doesn't want to attend the party.
- 挡箭牌。Zhège zhèngcè chéng le zhèngfǔ tuīxiè zérèn de dǎng.This policy has become a shield for the government to shirk responsibility.
- 挡箭牌，。Bié ná niánlíng dāng dǎng, nǐ wánquán yǒu nénglì zuò hǎo zhè jiàn shì.Don't use age as an excuse — you are fully capable of doing this well.
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